Download the free app

Get the Curiosity Smart Tab

Read These Facts About Kissing Before You Pucker Up

Share

Share

Excited for the August 21 eclipse? Visit our Eclipse 2017 page to explore the science, history, and myths of the event. The Curiosity team will be viewing the eclipse alongside NASA in Carbondale, Illinois. Follow us on Facebook for live videos, trivia, and interviews on the big day.

A popular theory behind the act of kissing is that it originated from kiss-feeding, or the transfer of pre-chewed food from one mouth to another. Early human mothers probably kiss-fed their infants, and many animals do so today. Kissing may have also conveyed information about the health and compatibility of potential mates. Humans aren't the only species that kisses: bonobos, our close primate cousins, do it too! Other creatures, including dogs, elephants, and even snails, perform behaviors similar to kissing that can increase bonding between individuals.